Surveillance and security

Even before September 11th 2001, the UK already had some of the world's most extensive systems for electronic surveillance and some of the harshest laws governing access to communications. New emergency legislation is sharply at variance with perceptions of Britain as a free, safe and liberal country.

There is a risk that new Internet surveillance powers will not be effective against terrorism or organised crime. Yet limited safeguards and democratic oversight may not be adequate to protect the innocent and law-abiding.

Could these security measures in fact be counter productive and threaten the freedom which they seek to protect?

The foundation's award winning research has led to major changes in law and policy and the first real scrutiny of these issues by the media and Parliament.

> Latest News
> Communications surveillance briefing 18/8/03
> The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
> Communications Data Access and Retention
> The Information Commissioner's Guide to Monitoring at Work